Grieving wife reveals heartbreaking way she is coping

The grieving wife of doting dad Luke Wilkinson has told how she has set up a group for widows and heartbroken children after her husband died after being flown back for Singapore when suffering from liver failure.

And after his inquest she told how every day is a struggle but the help from others who have lost their loved ones is helping her pull through.

Luke pulled on the heartstrings of his family and friends who raised thousands of pounds to fly him home from southern Malaysia for a possible liver transplant.

But Luke, originally from Marsden in South Shields , died on October 5 last year at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

The 37-year-old engineering consultant collapsed while on holiday in Singapore with his wife Di, 34, and children Jude, six, and Finn, four, last year.

The family had moved to Kuala Lumpur when Luke took a job at an oil and gas company before he fell ill five months earlier.

He had contracted several infections while working abroad and was on medication to treat them.

But on what was supposed to be a relaxing break at the Siloso Beach Resort, he collapsed and was diagnosed with liver failure.

Friends back home launched an appeal to raise cash to bring him to the UK, but were later told their insurance would pay for a flight home.

More than £18,000 was raised and wife Di told how the funds raised paid for the children’s flights and their parents, extra stay, meals, toiletries and clothes while stuck in Singapore.

“Anything left will be donated to the Freeman’s transplant unit to help other families,” Di said at the time.

Police to close Newcastle roads for Saturday's EDL protest

Northumbria Police say that they have “extensive plans” in place to ensure people’s safety ahead of this weekend’s EDL demonstration.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

The right wing movement is planning a march in Newcastle on Saturday in the wake of Operation Sanctuary - the court cases which have shocked the city.

Vile criminals who sexually exploited vulnerable young women and girls in the West End of the city have been jailed for a total of 180 years this week following a number of trials at Newcastle Crown Court.

Members of the so-called English Defence League are set to march from Haymarket through the city centre from 1.30pm and have advertised the demo on Facebook, highlighting local pubs on the route so members can “grab a pint” beforehand.

However, opponents to the controversial movement have vowed Newcastle will not be divided by hate and encouraged people to enjoy the busy weekend of sporting activities as usual.

Newcastle Unites will be marching in a counter protest and the City Games are also taking place on the quayside along with the Junior Great North Run.

The weekend is shaping up to be incredibly busy for the force as Sunderland are also playing Sheffield United at the Stadium of Light.

However, the Assistant Chief Constable has assured residents that they are dedicated to minimising disruption to members of the public as much as possible.

A number of rolling road closures will be in place throughout the city centre between 1.30pm and 2pm.

“The Great North Run weekend is always a busy, fun and exciting time to be in area with plenty going on and lots of great attractions for people to get involved in and this year is no different.

“We know people may be concerned by the demonstrations taking place but we would like to say we have been working closely with the organisers who have informed us their intention is for a peaceful demonstration.

“Our utmost priority is ensuring public safety and we have extensive plans in place to ensure disruption to our local communities is kept to an absolute minimum.

“It is not unusual to have a number of policing operations taking place on the same day and this is something we have a vast amount of experience of successfully policing.

“Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland are great places and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy the events this weekend and the other great attractions in the area.”

21:15Katie Collings

Bus diversions for Great North Run

There will then be major diversions or cancellation of routes in South Tyneside, Gateshead and parts of Newcastle City Centre on Saturday 09 September and on Sunday 10 September due to the Great North Run.

What will the weather be like tonight?

“Showers easing through the evening, especially in the east where some clear spells could develop. Cloudier further west where heavier, blustery showers are most likely, mainly over the Pennines. Breezy along the coast. Minimum temperature 9 °C.”

20:48Katie Collings

The everyday crimes you didn't know that you have committed

Feel free to keep the answers to yourself but you should have a look at this list of common crimes to see which ones you’re guilty of.

Apparently the average Brit commits 32 different offences every year, whether its putting make-up on while driving or watching TV without a licence.

These low-end crimes cover everything, from beeping your car horn in anger or not paying for a carrier bag at a self-service checkout.

Other laws commonly broken in the UK include parking on double yellow lines, cycling on the pavement and using someone else’s Wi-Fi without them knowing

The findings come from a study commissioned by BT TV and carried out by OnePoll to celebrate the release of a new series of US crime show Better Call Saul.

A massive 83% of Brits admitted they are sometimes confused by what’s illegal and what’s not, which may account for many breaches.

For example, who knew it was against the rules to fly a kite at certain heights in some parks or to stick a postage stamp upside down?

A study found two thirds of the population think many of these laws are completely unnecessary – although seven in ten admit they do feel guilty if they break them.

Vacuuming after 1pm on a Sunday is among the more unusual laws on the list and could land you in trouble with environmental health officers for making too much noise.

While the survey found UK adults spot illegal behaviour on average four times a day, only 10% said they would ever confront the offender.

And even though the majority of respondents admitted committing one of these offences, 98% also said they consider themselves law abiding.

Take a look at the full list here - how many are you guilty of?

1. Drank alcohol under the age of 18

2. Sworn or gestured to other road users

3. Eaten or drank whilst driving

4. Vacuumed between the hours of 6pm & 8am on a weekday or 1pm & 8am on a Saturday or on a Sunday

5. Parked partly on a payment

6. Cycled on pavements

7. Speeding whilst driving

8. Pocketed change when given wrong amount

9. Beeped a horn for any reason other than alerting traffic

10. Been drunk on the street, in a pub or in a restaurant

11. Changed a CD whilst driving

12. Had sex in a public place

13. Bought cigarettes under the age of 18

14. Dropped litter

15. Taken illegal drugs

16. Disturbed people by ringing their doorbells/knocking at their doors and running away

Traffic eased in Durham

Traffic has now returned to normal in Durham on the A691 Southfield Way southbound between The B6532 and The Gates Roundabout.

20:14Katie Collings

Junior Great North Run road closures

Our picturesque Quayside will be in the international spotlight on Saturday as the eagerly-awaited Great North Run weekend of activity finally gets underway.

The focus of attention will be on the Newcastle and Gateshead banks of the Tyne as world-class athletes and local talent compete in the Great North CityGames which will be televised live on BBC1.

Viewers and spectators on the day will be able to watch the likes of European hurdle champion Tiffany Porter, runners Lynsey Sharp and Reece Prescod as well as Paralympic gold medallist Jonnie Peacock.

Those wanting to turn up to watch that or any of the day’s earlier family-friendly events - the Great North 5K and Junior and Mini runs - will want to know about the road closures on Saturday which are set to cause some disruption to their journey.

Details of road closures on Sunday in Newcastle and South Tyneside for the main Great North Run race can be found here.

Saturday road closures for the Junior Great North Run, Great North 5k and CityGames

Road closures will be in place on the Quayside road in Newcastle from 6am until around 7pm and Sandhill from 8am until 7pm.

Anyone wanting to get into Queen Street, King Street or Lombard Street can use the pedestrian zone on Dean Street.

The Swing Bridge will be closed to traffic from 8am until 6pm and Bottle Bank, running down to Gateshead quayside, will be closed from 8am until 7pm, except for access to the Hilton Hotel.

But pedestrians can still use the Swing Bridge and Gateshead Millennium Bridge will remain open throughout the events.

Further along the Gateshead quayside, the building of the Great City Games track has meant that South Shore Road, which runs below Sage Gateshead, has been closed all this week and that closure will remain in place until 11.59pm on Sunday.

Pedestrians wanting to reach Gateshead Millennium Bridge are having to follow the signposts for an alternative route, which takes them through Mill Road car park, past the Baltic Quay apartments and behind the art gallery .

The Mill Road car park is currently closed to cars and will remain that way until 11.59pm on Monday as this is where the annual Pasta Party will be taking place.

Drivers will be able to leave their cars in the Sage’s car park where all-day parking is now available for £4.80.

Pipewellgate in Gateshead will be closed from 8am until 7pm on Saturday and Hillgate will be closed an hour earlier, from 7am also until 7pm.

All of the roads will have marshals and stewards to help with the situation.

19:48Katie Collings

Delays in Northumberland

There’s slow traffic on the A68 in both directions at Styford Roundabout due to an earlier collision and diesel spillage.

19:32Katie Collings

Busy in Durham

There are still residual delays from the A1 closure earlier on the A167 in both directions at Southfield Way.

19:07Katie Collings

Still slow on the A1

There’s slow traffic on the A1 Western Bypass northbound around the Swalwell turn off.

18:50Katie Collings

Stagecoach bus delays

Although there are still delays around Durham, services are now closer to timetable.

The following services are not operating or delayed:

The 19:15 service 45 will not operate from Consett.Service 20 is still suffering delays around Gilesgate and Durham City Centre.

What is Operation Sanctuary and why is it causing such outrage?

It started with harrowing accounts of sickening abuse from two victims.

But the bravery of this woman and girl in revealing how they were sexually exploited sparked a police operation that has so far seen 461 arrests, put vile abusers behind bars for hundreds of years, and potentially protected hundreds more vulnerable victims.

Below we explain more about the police investigations which uncovered sickening sex abuse happening on our own doorstep.

So what is Operation Sanctuary?

Well, Northumbria Police launched Operation Sanctuary in January 2014 with a wave of arrests, following allegations of abuse made in December 2013.

Investigations resulted in the probe codenamed ‘Operation Shelter’ which we have today revealed resulted in the conviction of a group of men and one woman who groomed and sexually exploited vulnerable girls and young women in Newcastle’s West End

But Shelter is just one part of the ongoing work by police and other agencies which falls under the ‘Sanctuary’ umbrella, and aims to tackle a wide range of exploitation issues and offences.

How many people have been convicted as part of Operation Sanctuary?

To date Northumbria Police has convicted more than 90 offenders and seen jail sentences totalling more than 300 years handed down, as part of the initiative. Meanwhile officers have engaged with and helped more than 700 potential complainants across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, identifying 278 as victims.

Mum of murdered Alice Ruggles to tackle Great North Run

Alice Ruggles’ mother will take on her first half marathon at the Great North Run to continue her daughter’s legacy.

The bubbly 24-year-old was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Trimaan Dhillon who stalked and abused her.

Alice, a Northumbria University graduate from Leicestershire, had been fundraising for Women’s Aid before her death last October.

And now mum Sue Hills is going to carry on that legacy fundraising for the domestic abuse charity with the Great North Run.

“When Alice died she had been collecting money for Women’s Aid. It seems like I need to carry that on, especially with how she died,” she said.

In the wake of her tragic death her family have returned to the North East and launched a charitable trust in her name.

Sue said by returning to Newcastle and running the race will help her feel closer to her daughter and her friends.

She said:

“Alice was beautiful, kind, generous, clever and always making people laugh. She loved her family, her friends, her job and her life. She had everything to live for and we will never recover from losing her.”

Dad who 'drunkenly slept' through fatal dog attack on three-week-old son jailed

A man who drunkenly slept through a sustained, fatal attack by the family’s terrier on his three-week-old son has been jailed for 21 months.

Reggie Young’s mother, Maria Blacklin, screamed in horror when she came home to find the baby barely alive, with partner Ryan Young and Lakeland-cross Tricky asleep.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the attack by the foot-tall dog could easily have been stopped, but the father did not wake up and the mauling may have lasted up to 20 minutes.

Young later told police he had drunk eight cans of Foster’s lager, and a taxi driver came forward to say he had been asked to deliver eight more to the address in Falkland Road, Sunderland, on the evening in June 2015.

Miss Blacklin’s grandmother had died that day and she had gone out to console her family, leaving her partner, a roofer, to look after Reggie, who was in a bouncer in the lounge.

The court heard that the dog was kept in the garden and normally only allowed in the kitchen, but there were no concerns over its temperament around children; it was not a fighting dog or used in vermin control.

Miss Blacklin returned home after 4am to what Judge Tim Gittens said was a scene of “Gothic horror”, with her newborn on the floor in a pool of blood.

Reggie was blue but still breathing and paramedics were called but he could not be saved.

Busy on the Felling Bypass

Slow on the A1

There’s slow traffic on the A1 Western Bypass northbound around the Swalwell turn off.

17:03KEY EVENT

Woman injured after A1 crash

An air ambulance landed on the A1 in Durham after a three-vehicle crash which closed the road for more than two hours.

A woman, believed to be in her 40s, was injured during the collision but the air ambulance was not needed in the end as her injuries are not life threatening. She suffered chest, arm and back injuries and was taken to hospital by a road crew from the North East Ambulance Service.

Police closed the A1(M) in both directions near Bowburn after the BMW, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Scirocco collided on Friday afternoon at around 1.45pm.

The collision occurred on the northbound side but officers closed the southbound carriageway to allow the air ambulance to land and to repair the central reservation which had been damaged.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed they had been in attendance.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said:

“We were called to a road traffic collision on the A1 around the junction 61 area at 1.42pm.

“We dispatched a double crewed ambulance and our full Hazardous Area Response Team and we requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance.”

She later added that one patient was taken by road to the University Hospital of North Durham with minor injuries.

The road was fully reopened at around 4.15pm.

16:50Katie Collings

A693 reopened

The A693 has now been reopened in both directions between St Paul’s Terrace and Station Cottages following a collision earlier.

16:37Katie Collings

Slow on the A19

There’s slow traffic on the A19 southbound between Newcastle Road and Chester Road.

16:23Katie Collings

Oil spillage on the A68

The A68 is partially blocked in both directions at Styford Roundabout due to a diesel spillage.

16:15KEY EVENT

Two demonstrations in Newcastle this weekend

Northumbria Police say that they have “extensive plans” in place to ensure people’s safety ahead of this weekend’s EDL demonstration.

The right wing movement is planning a march in Newcastle on Saturday in the wake of Operation Sanctuary - the court cases which have shocked the city.

Vile criminals who sexually exploited vulnerable young women and girls in the West End of the city have been jailed for a total of 180 years this week following a number of trials at Newcastle Crown Court.

Members of the so-called English Defence League are set to march from Haymarket through the city centre from 1.30pm and have advertised the demo on Facebook, highlighting local pubs on the route so members can “grab a pint” beforehand.

However, opponents to the controversial movement have vowed Newcastle will not be divided by hate and encouraged people to enjoy the busy weekend of sporting activities as usual.

Newcastle Unites will be marching in a counter protest and the City Games are also taking place on the quayside along with the Junior Great North Run.

The weekend is shaping up to be incredibly busy for the force as Sunderland are also playing Sheffield United at the Stadium of Light.

However, the Assistant Chief Constable has assured residents that they are dedicated to minimising disruption to members of the public as much as possible.

He said:

“The Great North Run weekend is always a busy, fun and exciting time to be in area with plenty going on and lots of great attractions for people to get involved in and this year is no different.

“We know people may be concerned by the demonstrations taking place but we would like to say we have been working closely with the organisers who have informed us their intention is for a peaceful demonstration.

“Our utmost priority is ensuring public safety and we have extensive plans in place to ensure disruption to our local communities is kept to an absolute minimum.

“It is not unusual to have a number of policing operations taking place on the same day and this is something we have a vast amount of experience of successfully policing.

“Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland are great places and we would encourage people to come along and enjoy the events this weekend and the other great attractions in the area.”

Members of the public are advised there will be rolling road closures on the below roads between 1.30pm and 2pm.

Heavy in Newcastle

Traffic is heavier than normal on the A167(M) Central Motorway southbound from Great North Road to City Road.

15:22Katie Collings

Heavy traffic at Nissan

Those heading home for the weekend are stuck in some queues:

Katie Collings

Predators who exploited Newcastle's most vulnerable girls locked up for 180 years

They exploited some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable girls and young women for sex.

But now these predators have now been brought to justice for their horrifying crimes.

Some 17 out of the 18 convicted have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court - and their sentences so far total 180 years and eight months.

Here, one by one, we look at what sentence each offender was handed.

1. Habibur Rahim, 34, of Friar’s Way, Fenham

Two counts of conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain, human trafficking, rape, two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation, four counts of supplying MCAT, two counts of supplying cannabis.

Jailed for 29 years.

2. Abdul Sabe, 40, of Dean House, Walker

Conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain, conspiracy to sexual assault, two counts of supplying cannabis, two counts of offering to supply cannabis, possessing cannabis.